Bath Rugby head coach Johann van Graan has disclosed that star fly-half Finn Russell was withdrawn from training last week due to a calf injury, putting his participation in Saturday’s crucial Gallagher Premiership clash against Leicester Tigers in doubt.
Russell, a Scotland international, missed Bath’s narrow 22-19 defeat to Bristol Bears last Friday as the coaching staff prioritized managing the key playmaker’s fitness. With Bath already secured a spot in the Premiership semi-finals, van Graan emphasized caution to ensure Russell’s availability for the critical stages of the season.
This weekend’s fixture at the Recreation Ground is pivotal: the winner will earn a coveted home semi-final spot the following Saturday. With Northampton Saints having clinched their home semi-final after a late 36-32 victory over Gloucester, Bath and Leicester Tigers fight to avoid finishing third—a position historically unfavorable since no team has won the Premiership from third place since the playoffs began in 2002/03.
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Following the close loss to Bristol, which hinged on a missed late 56-meter penalty by full-back Santi Carreras, van Graan provided insight into Russell’s condition: “He has a tight calf, and I pulled him out of training early last week. Since we’ve already qualified for the semi-finals in two weeks, we decided not to take any risks.”
He continued, “We’ll monitor his recovery next week and decide if he can play against Leicester or if it’s better to rest him another week. Our aim is to have our best squad ready for the semi-final on the 13th.”
With Russell unavailable last weekend, Ciaran Donoghue stepped in for only his second appearance this season after recovering from an ACL injury sustained in pre-season at Munster. If Russell misses this weekend, Donoghue or Argentina’s Carreras will contend for the crucial number 10 jersey in what essentially amounts to a quarter-final encounter.
Van Graan remained optimistic, stressing the advantage of playing at home: “It’s in our hands, and we are ready to give it our all on Saturday.”